Albion Park's Tahlia Wilson is confident her Sydney Thunder can still turn their season around after they fell to Adelaide at North Dalton Park on Wednesday.
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A classy half century from Adelaide opener Sophie Devine led the Strikers to a six-wicket victory, the New Zealander producing very few loose shots to finish unbeaten on 62.
The loss was the Thunder's fifth in a row, with the team struggling with the bat in the past four defeats.
While the side now sits in sixth place with just three matches remaining, Wilson is confident the Thunder can press for a finals berth.
"The result didn't go our way," Wilson said. "We were right in it to the end, but unfortunately a few things didn't quite go our way.
"There's lots of positives we can take out of the losses, like today there were just a few little things that didn't go our way and in any other game they go your way.
"We're still a chance for the finals, we just have to fight hard for these last rounds."
Defending their total of 4-112, the Thunder bowled well to push the game into the final overs, with Samantha Bates finishing with figures of 1-17 and Nida Dar 2-24 off her four.
Tight bowling by the pair saw Adelaide require 26 off the final four overs.
A no ball that went for four with the first ball of the 17th over put the Thunder on the back foot, with the Strikers suddenly ahead of the required run rate.
From there, Devine guided her side home with five balls to spare.
With the Thunder batting first, the Adelaide bowlers set the tone for the match, the unit preventing the Thunder players from looking comfortable at the crease.
Opening pair Rachel Priest and Alex Blackwell could only manage 21 runs during the powerplay period and the Strikers ensured the pressure remained for the entirety of the innings.
Blackwell was removed with the first ball of the seventh over, the wicket bringing Wilson to the crease.
Wilson took her time to get set, the 20-year-old playing patiently as Priest attempted to increase the run rate.
The opener had limited success however, and eventually fell for 31 in the 12th over.
Wilson remained patient as the Adelaide bowlers maintained the pressure and the runs eventually started to accumulate.
However, just when it looked like the local had found her rhythm, Wilson's stay at the crease was over.
Much to the disappointment of a healthy crowd, Wilson was trapped leg before wicket for 26 off 31 balls.
With batting conditions tricky, Wilson was overall pleased with the way she performed.
"It was quite tough. When the bowlers bowled in good areas it made it hard for us to score. That was where you had to use your own tools to try and manoeuvre and make something out of it.
"I was pretty happy with how I batted. There was a period in the middle where I thought I maybe could have scored a little bit quicker, but on a wicket like that I was pretty happy.
"I accessed the areas of the ground I wanted to and worked to my strengths and that's what the coaches asked for."
Wilson's wicket left Thunder captain Rachael Haynes at the crease, the 32-year-old guiding her side to 4-112 off their 20 overs.
With a flawless bowling and fielding performance required to defend such a low total, it was not to be for the Thunder, Devine leading the Strikers to victory.
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